Anwar Sadat Congressional Milestone Event

Diplomats, communal leaders, congressional staffers and organizational heads came together to express their support for the Anwar Sadat Congressional Gold Medal legislation at the Inaugural Sadat Congressional Luncheon on Capitol Hill as the bi-partisan legislation makes its way thru Congress. To date close to 200 members of Congress have co-sponsored the legislation, introduced by Senators Orrin Hatch and Ben Cardin and by Representatives Chris Stewart and Grace Meng.

The festivities began at a private reception for Sadat Commission Co-Chairs. It featured the participation of former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld. He shared personal recollections of the late Anwar Sadat and emphasized that the Congressional Gold Medal initiative is praiseworthy and urged its passage.

As Ezra Friedlander, CEO of The Friedlander Group, whose firm is leading the advocacy efforts on Capitol Hill, explained in his opening remarks "President Sadat's historic visit to Israel in 1877 was the first-ever by an Arab leader and the foundation for lasting peace between Egypt and Israel. This visit was more courageous given the opposition and outrage he faced at the time from the Arab world. In honoring President Sadat, we honor a man who truly embodied the statesmanship and fortitude necessary to bring peace to the Middle East virtues that are as important today as they were then."

A spirit of warm camaraderie filled the room as Egypt's ambassador to the United States Yasser Reda shared his emotions how his father a general in the Egyptian Armed forces embraced peace with Israel some 40 years ago. Ambassador Reda further reflected upon his own tenure as Egypt's ambassador to Israel and thanked the Sadat Congressional Gold Medal Commission for their leadership. The Commission is comprised of leading communal and business leaders including Rabbi Elie Abadie, Jack Avital, Andrew Friedman, Leon Goldenberg, Sol Goldner, Stanley Treitel, Aubrey Sharfman, Dr. David Moskovits, Gloria and Harvey Kaylie, Joseph B. Stamm.

Rep. Chris Stewart, a former Air Force pilot, spoke of the strategic relationship between Egypt and Israel from his vantage point as a member of the House Intelligence Committee. Other members who attended were: Representatives Joe Kennedy, Hank Johnson, Debbie Wasserman-Schultz, Shelia Jackson Lee, Gerald Connelly.

Senate Foreign Relations Committee Ranking Member Ben Cardin presented an award to the CEO of Delta Galil, Isaac Dabah, in memory of Mr. Dov Lautman, founder of Delta Galil. Dov Lautman's visionary approach to Middle East peace influenced his decision to invest in Egypt after the signing of the peace treaty. Furthermore, Mr. Dabah announced that Delta Galil is in the final stages of opening a fourth plant and remarked that Delta Galil employs over 3000 associates in Egypt.

It was Mr. Dabah's address which optimized the purpose of the campaign to award Anwar Sadat with the Congressional Gold Medal.

"Anwar Sadat was a true visionary who had true courage to change course and reach out to the Israeli people and seek peace.

Dov Lautman was a deep believer in coexistence between Israel and its neighbors--given the opportunity he was a pioneer and establishing the first state of the art Israeli manufacturing facility in Egypt.

Dov believed in fostering peace thru regional commerce.

As Prime Minster Begin said "we as Jews know how to appreciate President Sadat's courage."

We, at Delta Galil, are very proud of our relationship with the people of Egypt and believe in the importance of awarding the late President Sadat with the Congressional Gold Medal.

Anwar Sadat chose the path of peace and for that he paid the ultimate price and we the future generation are forever indebted.

It is clear to me, as an American, that the peace treaty between Israel and Egypt serve the national security interests of the United States and is a beacon of hope for future peace in the Middle East.

Bestowing the Congressional Gold Medal upon Anwar Sadat 40 years after the peace treaty was signed would send a clear message of hope and encourage every leader in the region to pursue true and lasting peace. Dov Lautman would indeed be very proud today".